Measuring Body Composition among Junior Section Schoolchildren in Slovakia

摘要

The importance of physical activity is one of the distinguished challenges of the 21~(st) century. Even in kindergarten age, it is very important to get the children to become fond of movement in a playful way. Numerous surveys show obesity among children. Sport, movement is not only a problem for public health but also for education. It contributes to the change in character, which can be positive, and at the same time it can have an effect on the learning skills (Vári, Balázs, Gy?ri 2016). To do so, well qualified Physical Education teachers are needed who promote children to develop habits and healthy self-image and motivate the weak, overweight children (Németh, K?lt? 2010). In junior section, in Hungary, one of the most important aims is to achieve the proper performance of the movement to be acquired in a playful way. An important element is the pleasurable activity and forming a positive attitude towards movement (http://keretttanterv.ofi.hu). By the end of the junior section the schoolchildren have to be aware of their fitness state and the assessment of their development. In Hungary, this is assured by the introduction of everyday Physical Education lessons and the accompanying testing methods which are aimed at the children's health- and skill centred fitness (Kaj et al. 2014). The Slovakian State Education Program sets out the principles within the Sport and Physical Education subject in the following way - divided into three main parts: health and healthy lifestyle, physical capability and the development of movement skills, sport activity in the lifestyle (state education program - SVP). Within the themed units the aim is the acquisition of basic motor skills which include natural movements and fine motor skills. In Slovakia schoolchildren have two Physical Education lessons a week and besides the choice of choosing a sport activity is provided by the school clubs. Nonetheless, the number of obese children has grown significantly for the past few dec